I have once again put the topics of hormonal health and my review on phototoxicity and ingestion on hold. Soon, I will return to them, starting with the final review of the hormonal saga of sage essential and followed by the introduction to geranium oil. Both are already completed.

I want to share with you what I’ve learned from research reviews and studies on one of my newest favorite essential oils!

 

Welcome Kunzea Essential Oil: A “Miraculous” Blend in a Single Oil

In a previous blog, I reviewed the chemical constituents found in this uplifting, skin supporting, respiratory soothing, and muscle relieving essential oil sourced from its pristine home of Australia.

Due to its molecular makeup it has been proclaimed that Kunzea is a “magical, miracle of nature.”  He stated it was a single oil that was more characteristic of a blend because it contained constituents of some of the most popular, therapeutic essential oils.

 

A Unique Composition Gains Experts’ Attention

On the webpage of Australian Botanical Products, a source of the oil in the same region, the uniqueness of this essential oil’s composition and uses is impressive. They quote how another of my favorite experts in essential oils, Dr. Daniel Pénoël, is awed by Kunzea. The post states: *

Kunzea is closely related to the genus Callistemon (the bottlebrushes) and also bears some similarity to Melaleuca and Leptospermum. There are about 40 species occurring in all states and territories of Australia. One species also occurs in New Zealand – Kunzea ericiodes, with the common name of Kanuka.

Kunzea is generally harvested as a small shrub with a forage harvester for distillation. Kunzea essential oil has a unique composition, with a high content of important sesquiterpene compounds.

A typical analysis with major components follows:

Alpha-pinene 52% – 1,8 cineole 12% – Alpha-terpineol 2% – Bicyclogermacrene 4.4% – Globulol 7.6% – Viridiflorol 6.8%

< 1% of linalool, terpinene-4-ol, citronellol, allo-aromadendrene, B-caryophyllene, ledol and spathulenol…

Dr. Daniel Pénoël, a renowned French physician who specialises in the therapeutic use of essential oils, gives high praise for Kunzea essential oil.

Dr. Pénoël points out that in terms of composition, Kunzea contains a large amount of a-pinene in comparison to 1,8 cineole, which is relatively rare in plants of the Myrtaceae family. Most importantly in Kunzea, there are five different sesquiterpene compounds, which is quite unusual: globulol, viridiflorol, spathulenol, ledol and bicyclogermacrene.

This unusual constituent makeup of Kunzea was verified in “A Contemporary Introduction to Essential Oils: Chemistry, Bioactivity and Prospects for Australian Agriculture,” in the 2015 article from Agriculture(2015; 5:48-102.)

In another website on aromatherapy, AromaWeb,* the authors reference other experts’ agreement on the makeup of Kunzea:

Major Constituents

a-Pinene
1,8-Cineole
Viridiflorol
Globulol
Bicyclogermacrene
a-Terpineol
See Essential Oil Safety for a more complete list of constituents and percentages from the source oil.

[Private Communication: Condon, 2003. Source cited in Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young, Essential Oil Safety (Second Edition. United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2014), 468.]

**Note: Please remember the differences in viewpoints on safety and usage with essential oils varies among aromatherapists depending on school of thought and oils they use in their practice. 

 

What’s in Your Bottle of Kunzea Essential Oil?

Below is the list of the compounds that can be found in this miraculous oil depending on the manufacturer, this is evidence of its true nature. I have provided some of their basic actions and cross-references to sources can be found within the links’ references.

Although we can’t always generalize the action of an essential oil based on its constituents alone, we can determine that some of these mechanisms will act in the body and synergize for even more harmonious effects.

Summary on Kunzea… So Far

With such an exquisite profile, it’s no wonder that all essential oil science nerds are ecstatic by its release!

The bottle line (pun intended) is that this single oil is unique in its mixture of some of the most well-studied compounds combined with rare, powerful components in relatively higher percentages than found in several beloved essential oils.

Next week, we will learn more about what my research revealed regarding Kunzea essential oil.

 

Additional Resources and References

 

This material is for information purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prescribe for any illness. You should check with your doctor regarding implementing any new strategies into your wellness regime. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. (Affiliation link.)

Disclaimer: This information is applicable ONLY for therapeutic quality essential oils. This information DOES NOT apply to essential oils that have not been tested for purity and standardized constituents. There is no quality control in the United States, and oils labeled as “100% pure” need only to contain 5% of the actual oil. The rest of the bottle can be filled with fillers and sometimes toxic ingredients that can irritate the skin. The studies are not based solely on a specific brand of an essential oil, unless stated. Please read the full study for more information.

Thanks Pixabay and iStock purchases.